High-capacity packet-switched ring network

ABSTRACT

A system and method permit a customer obtaining communication services to modify account parameters governing terms on which that service is provided. Customer account parameters are stored in one or more databases and accessed by one or more servers. The customer, upon accessing the communication service, is provided with an opportunity to modify the account parameters via automated interactive communication with the server. The invention can applied to wireless communication services such as wireless telephone service, wireless internet access, paging, or other forms of interactive wireless communication; to telephone or other wired interactive communication; to cable services; and to any other form of interactive subscriber communications. The invention may be implemented using existing equipment, and can be optimized for the type of communication device at issue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/052,814, filed on Jan. 23, 2002, which is currently allowedand is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to automated interactive management ofcommunication service accounts including, e.g., transfer of wirelessminutes from one category to another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many communication services are available under a variety of pricingarrangements. Wireless telephone service is one example. Wirelesstelephone service is often billed on the basis of actual minutes (orportions thereof) during which the customer is using the service, but itis also common for service providers to offer multiple pricing plansthat charge different rates depending on the time of usage. For example,a wireless service provider may offer a simple “pay-as-you-go” planunder which a customer is charged $0.50 per minute for “daytime” usage(perhaps between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.) on weekdays, but is onlycharged $0.25 per minute for “nighttime” and weekend usage. That sameservice provider may also offer a plan that provides a customer with aspecified amount of time the customer may use the communication servicein a period without paying an additional charge. Carrying the sameexample forward, a service provider might offer a customer 100 daytimeminutes and 100 night/weekend minutes for $39.99 per month, with anyextra minutes billed at the pay-as-you-go rate. In this example, thecustomer has a financial incentive to subscribe in advance for a presetamount of usage time in a particular period, as the cost is less than itmight otherwise be ($39.99 vs. $75.00). In addition to marketingreasons, the wireless telephone service provider may have multipleincentives to offer it customers the ability to subscribe in advance forusage in a particular period. When customers subscribe for usage inadvance, the provider may thus have a more predictable revenue stream.The provider may also desire, because of system capacity constraints, toencourage use of its services during certain periods and/or discourageuse during other periods.

The financial advantage to the customer may be offset, however, if allminutes are not used. Refunds are typically not provided if less thanthe entire allotment of minutes is actually used, and there may belimitations on carryover of minutes to the next period. A customer isless inclined to commit in advance to a specific amount of service ifthat customer does not believe he or she can accurately predict how muchservice will be needed during a given period, or when during that periodthat usage may actually occur (e.g., daytime vs. nighttime). In suchcircumstances, the customer may regard a particular communicationservice subscription plan as overly restrictive and inflexible. Thecustomer thus foregoes the opportunity to benefit from reduced chargesassociated with the subscription plan, and the service provider suffersby having a less predictable revenue stream for that period. The serviceprovider also loses the opportunity to encourage use of its facilitiesduring off-peak hours or to otherwise spread the drain on systemresources.

Similar arrangements and considerations exist with regard to othercommunication services. Long distance (wired) telephone service, forexample, is often available under various pricing plans that chargedifferent rates depending upon the time of the call, and that mayinclude a pre-set number of calling minutes per billing period. Internetand other computer network access has also been available undervarieties of pricing schemes. Moreover, new communication media andmethods of communicating over existing media continue to proliferate.For example, cable systems once used primarily for television servicenow commonly offer broadband internet service, pay-per-view movies, andother services. The uses for cable communication will continue to expandto services such as video-on-demand; telephony (VoIP or otherwise);remote classrooms; and numerous other services employing interactivecommunication. As uses for cable, wireless or other communicationsnetworks expand, however, so do the drains upon network facilities. Inaddition to bandwidth constraints and other finite limitations oncommunication media, services may also be limited by available storage(memory), processing and other factors. Accordingly, communicationservice providers will continue to have a need to encourage service useduring certain periods and discourage use during other periods. Offeringcustomers the ability to subscribe in advance to service during a givenperiod thus remains an attractive option.

It would therefore benefit both the customer and the communicationservice provider if there were a system whereby the service providercould offer one or more subscription plans for the provider's services,but at the same time allow the customer a degree of flexibility in latermodifying the chosen plan. If, for example, a customer could subscribeto a quantity of service time in advance (either by actual prepayment orby contractual agreement), but at the same time be allowed toconveniently and quickly make changes to that subscription based onchanges in the amount of usage time needed (or regarding the periodswhen that usage is needed), a customer may be more inclined to subscribein advance to a specific amount of service. The customer could benefitby enjoying cost savings over a pay-as-you-go plan, and the serviceprovider could benefit from a more predictable revenue stream and fromretaining some ability to spread the use of system resources overoff-peak periods.

To date, however, there are no known systems by which a wirelesstelephone service, wired telephone service, cable service, or othercommunication service offers a customer the ability to convenientlymodify the parameters of an account during a particular account period.Continuing the wireless telephone example from above, the customer whopurchased a plan providing 100 daytime and 100 night/weekend minutes permonth without assessing a per minute charge may decide that she reallyneeds 150 daytime minutes that month, and only needs 25 night/weekendminutes. In order to effect this change, and assuming a service providerwas willing, current systems would require the customer to call theservice provider and verbally request a change. The service providerwould then have to modify the customer's account by human action. Itwould be advantageous if the customer could instead make changes to theaccount in an interactive and automated fashion by, e.g., inputting therequest via keystrokes on a wireless telephone or other device, or viathe Internet or other computer network. Similarly, a customer usingwired long distance service may have subscribed to a plan providing Xpeak period minutes and Y off-peak minutes, but may later find that theactual usage during the period will be X+50 peak minutes and Y−25off-peak minutes. Currently known systems would require the customer tocall the long distance carrier and verbally request a change, with thecustomer's account then modified by human action. It would also beadvantageous in these circumstances if the customer could instead makechanges to the account in an interactive and automated fashion. Theapplicability of this problem to other types of communication servicesoffering pre-paid or pre-subscribed usage levels becomes apparent, as dothe advantages offered by a system allowing a customer to interactivelymodify a subscription in an automated manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a system and method whereby a customer obtainingcommunication services may modify account parameters that govern theterms on which that service is provided. Customer account parameters arestored in one or more databases and accessed by one or more servers. Thecustomer, upon accessing the communication service, is provided with anopportunity to modify the account parameters via automated interactivecommunication with the server. Modifications to account parameters caninclude: adjusting the terms of a calling or other usage plan to moveprepaid usage time from one category to another; purchase more usagetime; change usage plans; enable, disable or otherwise modify eventsscheduled to occur automatically; or to otherwise change the terms bywhich communication service is provided to the customer.

The invention can be applied to wireless communication services such aswireless telephone service, wireless internet access, paging, or otherforms of interactive wireless communication; to telephone or other wiredinteractive communication; to cable services; and to any other form ofinteractive subscriber communications. The invention may be implementedusing existing equipment, and can be optimized for the type ofcommunication device at issue. In some embodiments, the invention alsoallows a customer to modify or access account parameters through adevice that may be different from the device to which the accountpertains. As but one example, a wireless telephone customer might wishto modify account parameters by use of a personal computer. In someembodiments, the invention contemplates a single database maintainingaccount information for customers using different services. For example,a telephone carrier may offer wireless service, interexchange (longdistance) service, Internet access, or other services, with a variety ofpricing plans and options available for all; the carrier may wish tocentralize its database(s) and data management systems for theseservices. In such an embodiment, a customer's request to effect accountchanges may be routed to centralized database and data managementsystem, where any desired changes are made. Combinations of centralizedand local databases and data management are also within the invention.

In other embodiments, the system can be programmed to automaticallyreplenish a customer's account. Through use of the system, a customercould modify the account to disable the automated replenishmentfunction, to reset the threshold triggering replenishment, to changepayment methods, to specify a different sized block of replenishmentminutes to be purchased, or to otherwise effect changes. In still otherembodiments, a customer could modify an account retroactively. Yet otherembodiments might permit a customer to cluster usage time acrossdistinct access methodologies (wireless, wired, broadband, narrow band,etc) and/or move minutes from one access methodology to another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of various interconnected communications networksemploying the present invention.

FIG. 2A-2E are drawings of screen displays of a wireless telephone usedin connection with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing operation of one embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described with reference to the included drawings,where like-numbered features correspond to like-numbered features in thewritten description. FIG. 1 is a diagram of several interconnectedcommunications networks employing the present invention. Althoughmultiple forms of communication services are displayed in FIG. 1 anddiscussed herein, it is to be appreciated that the invention may also beimplemented in systems offering customers less than all of thecommunication services exemplified herein; in systems offering othercommunication services not discussed herein; and in systems offeringonly a single form of communication service.

One form of communication service shown in FIG. 1 is wireless service,and in particular, wireless telephone service. Wireless telephones101-103 communicate with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 110. Otherwireless devices, including but not limited to pagers, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), wireless Internet access devices, wireless webappliances, and other devices facilitating interactive wirelesscommunications, are also within the scope of the invention, and theinvention is not limited by the examples provided. The applicability ofthe invention to such other devices will be apparent to persons skilledin the art in light of the following described embodiments. Devices101-103 communicate by radio frequency transmission with one or morebase stations 105, which then communicates with MSC 110. To avoidunnecessary drawing detail not needed to describe the invention, allpossible intermediate structures and facilities between base station 105and MSC 110 are not shown, and are instead collectively represented by abreak in the line connecting base station 105 and MSC 110. Base station105 and MSC 110 need not be physically remote, however. Similarly, theremay be multiple MSCs within a wireless service provider's region, ormultiple MSCs lying within multiple service provider regions. Moreover,wireless telephones 101-103 need not be in their “home” region, and maybe “roaming.”

MSC 110 comprises one or more servers or other data processingfacilities 112. Server 112 may alternatively be remote from MSC 110, asshown in dashed lines, communicating with MSC 110 via datacommunications medium such as network 116. Server 112 accesses one ormore databases 120 that maintain billing, user profile and account datafor all wireless devices for which MSC 110 is the home system. Althoughnot shown in FIG. 1, database 120 may be physically remote from server112 and accessed by means of communication network 116. Network 116 maybe a signaling network or any other network allowing data communication.MSC 110 and/or databases 120 may also maintain communication links withother MSCs and databases of other service providers' systems (not shown)so as to facilitate service for devices “roaming” in the region of MSC110, and for other purposes known in the art. MSC 110 may further beconnected (via network 116, by direct connection, or by other datacommunication network(s)) to a centralized database and/or systemmanagement center 135; to the Internet; or to other data communicationnetworks (not shown).

FIG. 1 also shows various wired communication services. Wired devices151-153 communicate with a central office 160, which may be localcarrier switch or central office, an interstate carrier Point ofPresence (POP), or other central facility. Central office 160 comprisesone or more servers or other data processing means 162. Server 162 couldalternatively be remote from central office 160, as shown in dashedlines, communicating with central office 160 via data communicationmedium such as network 166. Network 166 may be a signaling network orany other network allowing data communication. In the example of FIG. 1,device 151 is a telephone; device 152 is a computer; and device 153 is avideophone. Other devices allowing interactive communication service arealso within the scope of the invention, including web telephones, webappliances, smart phones, etc., and the invention is not limited by theexamples provided. Wired devices 151-153 may communicate via POTS, DSLloop, fiber optics, cable or other means. The applicability of theinvention to multiple types of wired communication devices will beapparent to persons skilled in the art in light of the below-describedembodiments. To avoid unnecessary drawing detail not needed to describethe invention, intermediate structures and facilities between devices151-153 and central office 160 are not shown, but persons skilled in theart will appreciate that various other switches, routers, gateways,bridges and other facilities may lie between devices 151-153 and centraloffice 160. Server 162 accesses one or more databases 165 that maintainbilling, user profile and account information regarding devices 151-153.Although not shown, database 165 may be physically remote from server162 and accessed via network 166 or via other data communicationnetwork. Central office 160 may further be connected (via network 166,by direct communication, or by other data communication network(s)) to acentralized database and/or system management center 135; to theInternet; or to other data communication networks (not shown).

FIG. 1 further shows cable head end 170. Cable head end 170 communicatesby cable connection with subscribers such as 154 and 155. Subscribers154 and 155 may, but need not, also be connected to a central officesuch as central office 160. Cable head end 170 may provide subscribers154 and 155 with cable television services, with cable audio services,broadband computer network access, video-on-demand, telephone service(VoIP or otherwise), or other services. As but one additional example,interactive remote classrooms could be established, with studentsinteractively communicating with an instructor over a cable connection.A subscriber such as 155 may interactively communicate with head end 170by way of a set top box with advanced features allowing two way messageexchange, by interactive television set, by connection to a “smartjack,” or by other intelligent and/or interactive communication device.To avoid unnecessary drawing detail not needed to describe theinvention, intermediate structures and facilities between subscribers154 and 155 and head end 170 are not shown, but persons skilled in theart will appreciate that various other structures and facilities may liebetween subscribers 154 and 155 and head end 170. For example, there maybe intermediate distribution and/or concentration points betweensubscribers and a cable head end. Certain customers may also havemultiple devices in a home network, and thus have routers, hubs or otherfacilities within the home. Head end 170 is further connected to aserver or other data processing facility 172. Although not shown, server172 could be remote from head end 170 and in communication via one ormore data communication networks. Server 172 accesses one or moredatabases 175 that maintain billing and account information forsubscribers 154 and 155. Cable head end 170 could communicate via anetwork such as network 176, which could be any type of datacommunication network. Server 172 and database 175 may further beconnected to a centralized database and/or system management center 135;to the Internet; or to other data communication networks (not shown).

In one embodiment, wireless devices 101-103 are wireless telephones, andMSC 110 and server 112 are operated by a wireless telephone serviceprovider offering wireless telephone service in the region in which MSC110 is located. That region is, in the example of FIG. 1, the homeregion of telephones 101-103. The wireless telephone service providermay offer a variety of rate plans, such as those set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Plan Cost/Mo. Day Night/Wkend Extra 1 $15.99- — $.50/minute(day); $.25/minute (n/w) 2 $29.99 50 min.  50 min. $.50/minute (day);$.25/minute (n/w) 3 $39.99 100 min. 100 min. $.50/minute (day);$.25/minute (n/w) 4 $59.99 500 min. unlimited $.50/minute (day)

Plan 1 is a “pay-as-you-go” plan under which a customer pays, inaddition to a base monthly charge of $15.99, one rate for daytimeminutes and another for night and weekend minutes regardless of thecustomer's monthly usage. Plan 2 offers the customer a slight discount,and provides the customer with up to 50 minutes of daytime usage permonth and 50 minutes of night/weekend usage per month for a monthly basecharge of $29.99. If the customer's usage exceeds the minutes allocatedunder the plan, the customer pays at the “extra” minutes rate for usageabove the allocation. Conversely, if the customer uses less than 50daytime minutes or less than 50 night/weekend minutes during the monthlybilling period, the customer does not receive a refund. Plan 3 issimilar to plan 2, but offers a greater discount. Plan 4 is slightlydifferent, offering an unlimited number of night/weekend minutes, butcharging a higher rate for extra daytime minutes beyond the monthlyallocation. It is to be understood that the plans listed in Table 1 havebeen generated as examples to explain the operation of the invention,and the invention is in no way limited to (or by) these examples.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that an almost infinitevariety of plans are possible.

Continuing the example, a customer owning wireless telephone 101 hassubscribed to plan 3. At some point during the month, the customerrealizes she will not need 100 night/weekend minutes, but will need morethan 100 daytime minutes. Unless she can modify her subscriptionagreement with the wireless service provider, she will pay the extraminute rate for excess daytime minutes, and will lose any night/weekendminutes she does not use. However, the wireless service provider offersits customers a service by which they can modify certain aspects oftheir accounts during a billing period. This could include the option toexchange night/weekend minutes for daytime minutes, or vice versa. Byway of example, the wireless service provider may allow customers toexchange day and night minutes based on the same ratio as the cost ofday and night minutes under a pay-as-you-go plan (2:1 in this example).As another alternative, the wireless service provider may charge aslight premium for the exchange. In this example, the wireless serviceprovider offers its plan 3 subscribers the ability to exchange up to 60night/weekend minutes per month for 20 daytime minutes (3:1). Serviceproviders could allow exchange of minutes on multiple bases, all ofwhich are within the scope of the invention.

When the customer activates telephone 101, telephone 101 registers withits serving base station and MSC 110 and identifies itself to MSC 110.Server 112 queries one or more databases 120 to determine whethertelephone 101 is a subscriber to the wireless service provider's accountmodification service. If so, server 112 further determines the plan(s)to which telephone 101 subscribes; the number of day and night/weekendminutes remaining for the month; payment status; and any other necessaryinformation. Server 112 then transmits to telephone 101 a data messagecomprising the number of unused day minutes and night/weekend minutesremaining in the customer's account for that billing period (generally,that month). These minutes are then displayed on the screen of telephone101, as shown in FIG. 2A. In this example, telephone 101 has 22 daytimeminutes left and 85 night/weekend minutes left for the month. Usingtelephone 101, the customer then exchanges 45 night/weekend minutes for15 daytime minutes by entering keystrokes on telephone 101, and withoutneed to speak with a human operator. In this example, the customer firstpresses a button corresponding to “yes,” indicating a desire to makeaccount changes. This is transmitted to server 112. Server 112 thencauses telephone 101 to show the display shown in FIG. 2B, prompting thecustomer to choose the type of account changes to make. The arrowsindicate the customer can scroll the display to show other choices. Thecustomer highlights and selects “transfer,” thereby signaling a desireto transfer minutes from one category to another. This choice istransmitted to server 112. Server 112 then verifies that this type oftransfer is possible for this customer's account, and then causestelephone 101 to show the display shown in FIG. 2C, prompting to thecustomer to choose which type of minutes will be transferred. Althoughonly two types are shown (day and “N/W” for night/weekend), additionalcategories are possible. The customer highlights and selects “N/W” toexchange night/weekend minutes for daytime minutes. This choice istransmitted to server 112.

After verifying this is a valid choice, server 112 causes telephone 101to show the display of FIG. 2D. This display asks the customer to inputthe number of minutes to be transferred. The customer does so andpresses a key corresponding to “enter.” This is transmitted to server112, which verifies this is valid (i.e., that the customer is not tryingto transfer minutes she does not have), and if valid, updates thecustomer's user profile and account information in one or more databases120, and causes telephone 101 to show the screen of FIG. 2E, confirmingthe transaction and offering the customer the ability to make furtheraccount modifications. The customer chooses “no,” and is then able tomake a call or perform another function with telephone 101.

The particular keys, sequence of keystrokes, messages and prompts canvary based on the particular equipment used and based on other criteria.Persons skilled in the art will recognize numerous other possiblevariations on the above, all of which are within the scope of theinvention. For example, the computational steps and/or databasemanipulation necessary to effect an account modification may occur at aserver or other data processing facility that is part of an MSC; may bean adjunct to other MSC equipment; or may occur at a remote location.Server 112 may be a separate device configured to process accountmodifications, or may represent additional functions performed by aserver or other data processing device that performs other functions forMSC 110 and/or the wireless network of which MSC 110 is a part. As butone example, an existing accounting or billing server might beconfigured to perform the additional functions described above forserver 112. Similarly, database 120 could be a separate data storagefacility, a separate database on an existing storage facility, oradditional data records of an existing database. As another example,telephone 101 may be roaming outside of its home region when thecustomer elects to modify the account. If the customer's accountinformation, user profile and other information are maintained by thehome system (as would typically be the case), the wireless provider inwhose region telephone 101 is roaming would communicate with MSC 110, bymethods and systems known in the art, and modifications to the accountof telephone 101 effected. As another variation, a telephone or wirelessdevice may have resident software that minimizes the amount of radiomessage traffic between the device and the MSC. For example, the devicecould be configured to collect information from the user about the typeof transaction desired and transmit that data at once, instead of in themanner reflected in FIG. 2A2E and the discussion above. In otherembodiments, the invention may incorporate security features to preventunauthorized persons from accessing information about the account fortelephone 101 or from modifying that account. Security could be basedupon telephone device numbers, upon secondary passwords, upon voiceidentification, or upon other systems.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing operation of one embodiment of theinvention in the context of wireless service, but which is readilyadaptable to other communication services. At step 401, the customer'scommunication device is activated. At step 405, the device “goes live”and identifies itself to the communication system. In the case ofwireless telephone 101, the telephone identifies itself to MSC 110. Atstep 410, the system authenticates the customer's device as a validdevice and queries one or more databases to determine the customer'sservice plan. At step 415, the system determines whether the accountassociated with the device includes the account modification service. Ifnot, the system proceeds to step 450 and allows the device to accessother services (for example, placing calls). If the account does includeaccount modification service, the system proceeds to compute minutesleft by category (e.g., day, night/weekend). The system then transmitsthat data to the device at step 425, where the information is displayedor otherwise provided to the user. At step 430, the user is then giventhe option to add minutes, to move minutes into a different category, orto otherwise make account changes. At step 435, the customer indicateswhether changes will be made, and if no changes are desired, thecustomer is then permitted at step 445 to perform other services. Ifchanges are desired, they are made at step 440. The customer is thengiven the option to perform other services (e.g., make a call) at step455.

A wireless telephone service provider may also offer a customer numerousother account modification options. For example, a service provider mayexchange daytime minutes for night/weekend minutes. This could occur atwhatever exchange rate a provider chooses, and may encourage a customerto move their minutes to lower usage periods (e.g., offer to exchange 1daytime minute for 5 night/weekend minutes). A service provider mightallow a customer to change plans without speaking to an operator (e.g.,go from plan 3 to plan 2 or plan 4). A service provider could also allowa customer to purchase another “block” of usage time. For example,instead of exchanging night/weekend minutes for daytime minutes, thewireless service provider could permit the customer to purchase a blockof 100 more daytime minutes at a discounted rate. If the customer doesnot use all of the 100 additional minutes in the block, she receives norefund, but the minutes in the block are less expensive than minutesunder the “extra minutes” rate.

The invention can be implemented on existing hardware with softwaremodifications. For example, time and amount (minutes) of usage and othercall data for wireless telephone service can be captured from existingsystems already in place for roaming, billing and other functions. Theinvention is not limited by where functions of the invention are carriedout. In the context of wireless web (or other Internet) access, forexample, necessary processing and data storage could occur at the MSCserving the device, through the web at a remote web-based server, or atany other location within data communication.

The invention is similarly not limited to wireless communicationservices, and IS applicable to wired devices such as telephones,computers, or other devices capable of transmitting and receiving thenecessary data. In FIG. 1, devices 151-153 communicate with centraloffice 160, which in turn communicates with one or more databases 165.When a customer owning telephone 151, for example, wishes to modify anaccount (for example, to change or modify a long distance calling plan),the customer may call a specific number. Telephone 151 is thenconnected, perhaps via intervening facilities not shown, to centraloffice 160. Telephone 151 is then connected to server 162, which sendsan automated voice message indicating how many unused minutes remain inthe billing period. The message also gives the customer the opportunity(by, e.g., pressing a particular code or other key sequence) to modifythe account. If the customer chooses to do so, the server 162 sends aseries of automated voice prompts that elicit the necessary informationfrom the customer. Server 162 then modifies the customer's accountinformation on one or more databases 165. As is the case with regard towireless services, the invention can be implemented on existing hardwareby making software modifications. Call and account data can be capturedfrom, e.g., existing systems already in place, such as a switch, anexisting billing server, or other known sources. Again, the invention isnot limited by where functions of the invention are carried out. Forexample, necessary processing and data storage could occur at a switch,at a server or other adjunct to a switch, at a remote server, or at anyother location within data communication.

Devices 151-153 could be devices other than conventional voicetelephones, including but not limited to computers, PDAs, videophones,web-based appliances, etc. Depending upon the device, the customer mayreceive automated prompts by screen display. Indeed, in all customerdevices according to the invention (whether wired, wireless or cable),data is displayed on the subscriber's device in a format bestrepresentable by the device. Each customer account can have, as part ofits user profile, information regarding the customer device(s) and howdata is to be displayed. Depending on the device, the information mightbe presented as an SMS message, voice message, live voice (if humanoperator assistance is required because, e.g., language issues), simpletext field presentation, graphical display, IVR (interactive voiceresponse) exchange, etc. Device specification could also occur throughthe device itself, including device self-identification and/oroptimization of service based on device-specific parameters. If aweb-enabled device is involved, information could be provided via aspecific port (UDP or TCP), and can be brought to the subscriber'sattention using Instant Messaging, Hosted Web Page, email message(periodic or otherwise), etc.

As described with regard to wireless telephone service, the system couldadvise a customer, upon device activation, of the remaining time leftunder the customer's subscription plan. In the case of a computer, avideo phone, or other device with a display screen or other visualdisplay, the device could, upon activation, booting or otherwise, show abreakdown of usage remaining under various categories of a customer'ssubscription. A customer could establish, by initial account setup or bysubsequent interactive account modification, whether the customer wishedto receive this initial notification. In the case of a telephone withouta visual display or other device without visual display, an audioannouncement (prerecorded or generated by automated means known in theart) could be provided whenever the customer calls the accountmodification number as discussed above. Alternatively, the customercould elect to receive this message upon dialing an access code for along distance carrier (i.e., 10-10______) or perhaps even upon dialing“1.”

FIG. 1 further shows an example of the invention in the context of acable system. Cable head end 170 communicates with customers such as 154and 155. Cable head end communicates with server 172, which accesses oneor more databases 175. Customers 154 and 155 may subscribe toconventional cable television services; to broadband Internet accessservice provided by the operator of cable head end 170; to VoIPtelephony; to video-an-demand service; or to other services provided by(or through) the cable operator. Customers 154 and 155 may access theseservices through multiple devices, including computers, smart televisionsets, cable set-top boxes, or other devices capable of interactivecommunication. As with wireless and other forms of wired communication,the cable operator may offer customers 154 and 155 various pricing plansthat encourage use of services during certain times or discourage useduring other times. As but one example, a customer may be able toremotely take a class that is offered via the cable system. Althoughcustomers may prefer to take classes in the evening, it may be difficultto find teachers willing to instruct at that time, or who charge more todo so. Accordingly, customers may be able to take the class for oneprice during the day and another price at night, with the ability tochange times at a corresponding premium (or credit). As another example,a cable operator may offer video-on-demand service allowing customers tochoose from numerous movies and watch the movie at any desired time.However, the cable operator may have limits upon the number of customersthat can access its video storage facilities at one time. The operatormight therefore offer “packages” of movies with varying prices based onwhen the service is accessed. A customer could, for example, have a planallowing 5 “matinee” movies and 5 evening movies a month. The operatorcould then allow the customer to modify the plan at a premium (e.g., 2matinees for one evening movie), or on some other basis. In the case ofVoIP, the operator may offer calling plans similar to those offered withregard to wireless and conventional telephone service, and the abilityto modify those plans.

When a customer desires to modify a subscription in some manner, thecustomer communicates with cable head end 170 and server 172, which thenmodifies the customer's account status in one or more databases 175. Thecustomer's device (whether a computer, a television and set top box,etc.) can then display account information to the customer on start-up,in a device appropriate manner similar to the previously-describedexamples. The system might allow, for example, a cable operator to allow“specials” whereby a customer can purchase credits for pay-per-viewmovies or other services in advance, and then use those credits at somefuture date. When the customer first turns on a television, a set-topbox could display the amount of such credits available, offer thecustomer an opportunity to purchase more, etc.

The invention also allows a customer to modify or access accountparameters through a device that may be different from the device towhich the account pertains. Referring again to the example of wirelesstelephone 101, the customer might wish to modify account parameters byuse of a personal computer. By using a computer, such as a computerlocated at 154 in FIG. 1, the customer accesses server 112 by one ormore computer networks. For example, the wireless service provider couldmaintain a web site on the Internet. In one embodiment, server 112 couldbe connected, either directly or through network 116 or othercommunication networks, to the Internet. The customer logs into the website, which may be secured by password or other means, and effects anydesired account changes.

The invention could also utilize a single database maintaining accountinformation for customers using different services. For example, atelephone carrier may offer wireless service, interexchange (longdistance) service, Internet access, or other services, with a variety ofpricing plans and options available for all. The carrier may wish tocentralize its database(s) and data management systems for theseservices. FIG. 1 shows a centralized database and data management system135, which further comprises server 136 and database 137. In thisembodiment, a customer's request to effect account changes may be routedto centralized database and data management system 135, where anydesired changes are made by server 136 to database 137. Combinations ofcentralized and local databases and data management are within theinvention. For example, a carrier may maintain user profiles and accountdata for wireless service on local database 120, but maintain otheraccount information on centralized database 137.

In another embodiment, the system can be programmed to automaticallyreplenish a customer's account. For example, a wireless telephonecustomer may have a subscription plan whereby the customer has 100daytime minutes per month for a flat fee, with automatic replenishmentof those minutes once the 100 minutes are used, or when the customer'sbalance of remaining usage time reaches a predetermined level. Thesystem could then be programmed to automatically provide another blockof 100 minutes at a predetermined cost. A designated bank account, phonecard, credit card, debit card, or other source of funds could beautomatically debited. Through use of the system, a customer couldmodify the account to disable the automated replenishment function, toreset the threshold triggering replenishment, to change payment methods,to specify a different sized block of replenishment minutes to bepurchased, or to otherwise effect changes.

In another embodiment, a customer could modify an account retroactively.If a wireless customer exceeded the monthly usage minutes, the customercould simply buy another block of minutes to cover the excess minutesused. In addition to providing a customer with further flexibility whenchoosing a subscription plan, this feature would provide a communicationservice provider with an important marketing advantage.

Yet another embodiment might permit a customer to cluster minutes acrossdistinct access methodologies (wireless, wired, broadband, narrow band,etc). Additionally, a customer might move minutes from one accessmethodology to another. For example a customer may have 50 wired dayminutes and 3 wireless day minutes, and might want to convert some wiredday minutes to wireless day minutes. Conversions could be done eitherautomatically (where an algorithm provides the user with the bestconversion rate) or by subscriber request. The system could also providethe ability to combine multiple members of a household or “circle” inwhich minutes can be shared between the members of the circle. Hence theminutes are pooled and everyone in the circle has access to them and theability to convert them. This conversion ability can be accounted forvia a profile for the group administered by a group member. Limitationscan be put in place by the group administrator to limit activities ofgroup members.

For convenience, the description has used certain communication servicesas examples of embodiments of the invention. Numerous other examples andcombinations are within the scope of the invention. For example, acommunications network may have both wired and wireless components.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can beimplemented in any communication service environment wherein a customermight advantageously modify an account through automated interactivemeans. Moreover, costs, calling plan terms, and other exemplaryparameters used herein are merely provided to describe the operation ofthe invention in sufficient detail so as to permit its practice bypersons skilled in the art, but are not limitations on the invention.Instead, the invention is defined by the attached claims, which are tobe construed as broadly as possible in light of the specification andthe prior art.

1. An automated method of managing communication service accountscomprising: maintaining a database comprising account parameters,wherein at least one account parameter establishes rules by which acustomer's user device may use at least one subscribed communicationservice at designated times; receiving a customer-initiated signalrequesting modification of the at least one account parameter; modifyingthe at least one account parameter in response to the customer-initiatedsignal; and updating the database to reflect modification of the atleast one account parameter.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the atleast one subscribed communication service is wireless telephoneservice, the user device is a wireless telephone, the first accountparameter comprises a preset amount of service usage time during a firstperiod, and the first account parameter is modified to decrease thepreset amount of service usage time during the first period and increasea preset amount of service usage time during a second period.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one subscribed communicationservice is long distance telephone service, the user device is atelephone, the first account parameter comprises a preset amount ofservice usage time during a first period, and the first accountparameter is modified to decrease the preset amount of service usagetime during the first period and increase a preset amount of serviceusage time during a second period.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theat least one subscribed communication service shares a communicationmedium with cable television transmission, the user device is one of apersonal computer, a set top box, an interactive television, and a VoIPtelephone, the first account parameter comprises a preset amount ofservice usage time during a first period, and the first accountparameter is modified to decrease the preset amount of service usagetime during the first period and increase a preset amount of serviceusage time during a second period.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a customer-initiated identifying signalidentifying the user device; retrieving at least one account parameterin response to the identifying signal; issuing, in response to theidentifying signal and for communication to the user device, a responsesignal comprising at least part of the retrieved account parameter; andquerying whether an account modification is desired.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the at least one subscribed communication service iswireless telephone service, the user device is a wireless telephone, andthe retrieved account parameter comprises a number of calling planminutes.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one subscribedcommunication service is long distance telephone service, the userdevice is a telephone, and the retrieved account parameter comprises anumber of calling plan minutes.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the atleast one subscribed communication service shares a communication mediumwith cable television transmission and the user device is one of apersonal computer, a set top box, an interactive television, and a VoIPtelephone.
 9. An automated method of managing communication serviceaccounts, comprising: maintaining a first database comprising accountparameters establishing rules of use for at least two types ofsubscribed communication service, wherein a first account parameterestablishes rules by which a first type subscribed communication servicemay be accessed at designated times; maintaining a second databasecomprising account parameters establishing rules of use, wherein asecond account parameter establishes rules by which a second typesubscribed communication service may be accessed at designated times;receiving a customer-initiated signal requesting modification of atleast one of the first and second account parameters; modifying, inresponse to the customer-initiated signal, the first parameter to changea preset amount of first service usage time during a first period;modifying, in response to the customer-initiated signal, the secondparameter to change a preset amount of second service usage time duringa second period; and updating at least one of the first and seconddatabases to reflect modification of the first and second accountparameters.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and seconddatabases are part of a single database.
 11. A system for automatedinteractive management of a communication service account, comprising: aserver; and a data storage device in communication with the server, thedata storage device comprising account data that comprises parametersestablishing rules of use that control the terms by which a plurality ofuser devices may obtain at least one subscribed communication service,wherein the server is configured to update a first account parameterbased on use of the communication by the plurality of user devices, toreceive a customer-initiated signal requesting modification of the firstaccount parameter, to query the database and determine if the firstaccount parameter is a modifiable account parameter that may be modifiedin response to a customer-initiated signal, and to modify the firstaccount parameter if it is a modifiable account parameter.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the at least one subscribed communicationservice is wireless telephone service, the plurality of user devicescomprises a group of wireless telephones, the first account parametercomprises a set of calling plan minutes from which each of the pluralityof user devices may draw, and the customer-initiated signal comprises agroup administrator access code.